Among the companies with shares expected to actively trade in
Monday's session are Barnes & Noble Inc. (BKS), Sunoco Inc.
(SUN) and Humana Inc. (HUM).
Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) is making a $300 million investment in
Barnes & Noble's Nook digital-book business and college texts
unit in a move that helps value the prized Nook business, the
companies said. Microsoft will have a 17.6% stake in a new
subsidiary for the businesses in a deal that values them at $1.7
billion, the companies said. Shares of Barnes & Noble more than
doubled premarket, up 104% to $27.84 in recent trading.
Energy Transfer Partners L.P. (ETP) agreed to acquire
independent refiner Sunoco in a $5.3 billion deal that would create
one of the largest and most diversified energy partnerships in the
U.S. ETP, a natural-gas pipeline operator, said it will pay either
$50 in cash, 1.0490 ETP common units or a combination of $25 in
cash and 0.5245 ETP common unit for each Sunoco share. The
estimated $50.13 per-share value is a 23% premium to Sunoco's
Friday closing price. Shares of Sunoco climbed 22% to $49.75
premarket.
Humana's first-quarter earnings fell 21% from a year-earlier
period that saw a larger gain from medical claims reserves as
increased membership contributed to stronger-than-expected revenue
growth. The health-care company's stock slipped 3.5% to $84.75
premarket.
Hologic Inc. (HOLX) has agreed to acquire test-maker Gen-Probe
Inc. (GPRO) for about $3.7 billion in cash, as the health products
company seeks to expand and diversify its diagnostics business. The
deal with Hologic values Gen-Probe at $82.75 a share, a 20% premium
to its Friday closing price. Shares of Gen-Probe jumped 20% to
$82.24 premarket while shares of Hologic declined 3.4% to
$20.50.
Warner Chilcott PLC (WCRX) is considering options, including a
potential sale, after receiving interest from private-equity firms
and other potential buyers, Bloomberg News reported, citing people
with knowledge of the matter. Shares of the maker of women's
health-care and dermatology products rose 18% to $22.10
premarket.
Scholastic Corporation (SCHL) again raised its fiscal-year
earnings guidance on stronger-than-expected sales of "The Hunger
Games" trilogy following the March release of the movie based on
the books for young adults. The massively successful Lions Gate
Entertainment Corp. (LGF) film has approached $400 million in
domestic box-office receipts. Shares of Scholastic gained 10% to
$34.05 premarket.
LDK Solar Co. (LDK) swung to a loss in its fiscal fourth quarter
as tumbling prices for solar products cut the company's revenue by
more than half and margins plunged into negative territory. LDK's
stock traded down 12% to $2.61 premarket.
Demand Media Inc. (DMD) was deep into discussions with a
private-equity firm to complete a deal that would have taken the
online-content company private for double its current value,
reported All Things Digital, citing people close to the situation.
Demand abandoned the effort this past week, which was born from an
aggressive attempt by Boston-based Thomas H. Lee Partners to
purchase the company for $1.2 billion.
Allscripts Healthcare Solutions Inc. (MDRX) has elected a new
chairman, moving quickly to restore order on its board after the
termination last week of its former chairman sparked the
resignation of three board members and sent its shares tumbling.
Shares of the provider of electronic health-care records climbed
3.4% to $10.65 premarket. On Friday its stock had tumbled 36%.
Goldcorp Inc. (GG) said the environmental permit for its
70%-owned El Morro copper-gold project has been suspended by the
Supreme Court of Chile until "certain deficiencies" are corrected
by the Chilean environmental permitting authority. The miner shed
0.6% to $38.90 premarket while New Gold Inc. (NGD), its 30% partner
in the project, declined 2.9% to $9.73 in premarket trading.
Watson Pharmaceuticals Inc.'s (WPI) first-quarter earnings rose
22% as the drug maker reported sharply higher revenue with a boost
from new generic drugs and as its branded pharmaceuticals and
distribution business also posted double-digit growth. For the
year, the company raised the low end of its per-share earnings
estimate. Shares traded up 2.4% to $77.95 premarket.
Watchlist
Industrial-glass maker Apogee Enterprises Inc. (APOG) said it
raised its dividend 10%, joining a growing list of firms looking to
build shareholder value with bigger payouts.
Great Southern Bancorp Inc. (GSBC) agreed to assume the assets
and deposits of Inter Savings Bank after Minnesota state regulators
closed it.
Naugatuck Valley Financial Corp. (NVSL) said Friday it will
restate its previously reported financial results after Connecticut
regulators told the bank it had improperly classified some
loans.
Sonabank, a subsidiary of Southern National Bancorp of Virginia
Inc. (SONA), agreed to assume the assets and deposits of HarVest
Bank of Maryland after state regulators closed it.
-Edited by Corrie Driebusch and Drew FitzGerald; write to
corrie.driebusch@dowjones.com